BEARS NOTES.

RB Thomas looks good to go

Runs full speed in practice for 2nd straight day

Tailback Anthony Thomas was able to practice virtually unimpeded on his injured hamstring for a second straight day Thursday, something that had not happened for several weeks.

That has increased the Bears' hope that Thomas, the team's leading rusher, will be ready for at least some of the workload Sunday at Green Bay.

The Bears are expected to run the ball extensively, using Thomas and James Allen as a way of keeping quarterback Brett Favre and the Green Bay offense off the field and lightening the load on the defense.

"I practiced the whole week and I felt pretty good," Thomas said. "I've had no problems with it. It hasn't bothered me at all. So I think I'm going to have to take a shot at it."

The hamstring appeared to be a problem when the Bears lost to the Packers on Nov. 11. Thomas gained 22 yards in his first two carries, then managed just 23 total yards in his next 20 as the Packers stacked the line of scrimmage. Safety Darren Sharper twice brought down Thomas for losses.

"I think the hamstring had something to do with it, but they had the opportunity to go in there and put a lot of guys in the box, knowing what our strategy was at the time," Thomas said. "But now they're going to have to have something a little different for me."

Sick bay: Defensive end Bryan Robinson did some running on his injured knee Thursday but did not participate in the entire practice. The decision on his availability for Sunday will rest partly with coaches, partly with team medical staff and partly with him.

On that last part, told that Robinson said there was no way he would not be playing Sunday against Green Bay, coach Dick Jauron was not surprised: "That's a pretty good thing to hear from a player."

If Robinson cannot start, ex-Raven Carl Powell would open at one end spot. Robinson moves to tackle in obvious passing situations. If he is out of that personnel package, three-time Pro Bowler Ted Washington could remain in at tackle along with Robert Newkirk. Keith Traylor also would be an alternative on some passing downs.

Packer cut: The last time safety Chris Akins landed in coach Mike Sherman's doghouse, it cost him a paycheck. Thursday it cost him his job.

Akins lost his starting spot three weeks ago when he committed a costly personal foul that led to Atlanta's winning touchdown and then got into a shouting match with Sherman on the sideline.

Sherman considered cutting him then but instead fined him a game's pay--$21,611--after he apologized and several teammates lobbied on his behalf. But he did lose his starting job to rookie Bhawoh Jue.

Akins committed two penalties on returns Monday night at Jacksonville. Sherman yelled at him on the sideline after the first infraction, in which Akins ran into the returner before the ball arrived.

The final straw came Thursday when Akins told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he wanted to be waived and insisted that Sherman's punishment was personal and irrational.